Heney l



(No Model.)

H. L. BAILEY. ELECTRIC SPARK ARRESTING 01mm AND DEVICE. N0. 284,354.Patented Sept. 4, 1883.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 13!] his .flfiorneZ/s Her? UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE;

HENRY L. BAILEY, or BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR To THE TIME TELEGRAPH COMPANY, or'NEXV YORK, n. Y;

ELECTRIC-SPARK-ARRESTING CIRCUIT AND DVlCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,354, datedSeptember 4, 1883.

Application filed April 1883.

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric'SparlQArresting Circuits and Devices, of which the following isa specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for preventing theoccurrence of the disruptive electric discharges whichtend to take placeat each interruption of an electric current traversing a circuit inwhich is included a series of electro-magnets at the points where theconductor traversed by such a current is broken.

The invention consists in applying to a circuitclosing device anon-inductive shunt-circuit which is automatically brought into actionwhen the electiomaguets are vitalized, and which serves as a path forthe induced currents which are incident to the magnetic discharge of theelectro-magnets around the con tact or circuit-closing points. Thenon-inductive shuntcircuit is completed after the completion of thebattery-connections, and they remain so completed a sufficient timeafter the interruption of these connections to permit the requireddischarge.

The invention further consists in providing a supplemental shunt-circuitof a similar character for neutralizing the induced current or inductivedischarge of an electro-magnet employed for controlling the connectionsof the first-named slmut-circuit. The connections of the su )plementalshunt-circuit are controlled in essentially the same manner as those ofthe principal shunt-circuit.

The accompanying drawing is a diagram illustrating the application of myinvention to an electric circuit, including a series of electromagnets,which may be employed for any required. purpose. The dotted lines in thedrawing illustrate a modification of the organization of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, L represents a main line, in which is includeda series of electromagncts, m m m", &c. A battery, E, is included in themain line L, and the circuitconnections oithis battery are completed by(No model.)

means of a manual or automatic circuit-closer, K, of any suitablecharacter, in a well-known manner.

The circuit-closer K which I have represented consists, merely, ofalever, j, carrying a contact-point, k, which, when the lever isdepressed, makes electrical connection with the corresponding contact-point, k. The point k is electrically connected with one terminal of themain line L, and thus through the electro-magnets m with one pole of thebattery E, while the contaetpoint k is connected directly with theopposite pole of the battery E. IVhen the key K is depressed, thecircuit of the bat tery E will be completed through all of theelectro-magnets in the system, and the latter will be vitalized.Immediately upon the interruption of the circuit at the points k k", themagnetic discharge of the cores of the electromagnets will induce in thecoils of each magnet a momentary electric impulse in a manner wellunderstood.

In an extended system, as the impulses from the several electro-magnetsare added to each other a current of considerable strength tends totraverse the main line L. If unprovided for, such a current willoccasion a disruptive discharge at the circuit-closing points k and kand these points soon become corroded and unserviceable. For the purposeof neutralizing such currents, I provide a shunt-circuit, 7, including anon-inductive resistance, R, preferably approximately equal to theresistance of the main line. The connections of this circuit arecompleted around the contact-points k and it immediately after the maincircuit is completed, and it remains closed a suflicient time after theinterruption of the connection at the points k and k to permit theinduced current to pass through the shunt-circuit Z, thereby avoidingthe contactpoints.

The device which I employ for controlling the connections of theshunt-circuit Z consists of an electro-magnet, M, included in thecircuit .of the main line L, and provided with an 5 armature, a, andarmature-lever N. An adjustable retractile spring, 8, is provided, fornormally maintaining the armature and its lever away from the poles ofthe electro-magnet. At the extremity of the armature-lever IOO - jectinginto its path. The spring 1) yields to the pressure exerted by the leverN, and the extent of its fiexure may be adjusted by means of a suitablelimiting-screw, t. The armature N is electrically connected by aconductor, 1, with the main-line conductor L at a point, 2. Thecircuit-closing spring p is electrically connected with one terminal ofthe shunt-circuit Z, the other terminal of which is connected with thecontact-point 7c of the circuit-closerK. The parts are so adjusted thatnormally the contact-point 0 is out of contact with the spring 1), andthe connections of the shunt-circuit Z are thus normally open.Immediately after closing the circuit-closer K, a circuit will becompleted through the conductor Z at the point 0, and after theinterruption of the con.- nections at k by the action of thecircuitcloser K, this circuit will remain closed until the spring p hasresumed its normal position. The time which elapses after theinterruption of the circuit at k k before the interruption of theshunt-circuit connections is sufficient to permit the discharge of theinduced current around the points 7c and 70?. It will be ob.- served,however, that the coils of the electromagnet M are included in theportion of the main line L between the point 2 and the circuit-closer K,and whatever current is induced in the coils of this magnet by themagnetic discharge of its cores would tend to produce a spark at thepoints k. To prevent such a discharge, I provide a supplementalnon-inductive shuntcircuit, Z, the connections of which are completedaround the coils of the -electro-1nagnet M in a manner precisely similarto that described in connection with the circuit Z. One terminal of theconductor Z is, electrically connected with the main line L at a point,3, and the opposite terminal with an insulated flexible circuit-closingspring, 19.

An adjustable contact-point, o, is carried upon the extremity of thelever N, which contactpoint is brought by the movements of th lever intoconnection with the, corresponding contact-spring, p, as described withreference to the point 0. and spring 19.

It will be seen thus that when the armaturelever is depressed therespective terminals of the coils of the electro-magnet M will beconnected with each other through the conductor Z, spring 1),contact-point 0,, armaturerlever N, a11d conductor 1, and that theseconnections will be completed and interrupted simultaneously with thoseof the-conductor Z. An adjustable non-inductive artificial resistance,r, isincluded in the conductor Z, preferably approximately equal to theresistance of the electro-magnet' M. The time during which this circuitshall remain closed relative to the completion of the circuit throughthe conductor Z, may be controlled by adjusting the point 0 and thelimiting-stop t. v

In some instances it may be advisable to apply apermanent shunt-circuitto the electro-magnet M, such as is indicated in the drawings in dottedlines at Z This modification consists merely in replacing the conductorZ and resistance r, together with the contact-springatp and point 0, bya conductor, Z the opposite terminals of which are con nected directlywith the coils of the magnet M through a resistance, 1- similar to theresistance 1". r

In some instances it may be found desirable to apply acircuit-controlling device similar to that described with reference tothe electro-magnet M to any of the electromagnets m.

This may be done by employing the movements of the armature of suchmagnet in a manner precisely similar to that already de scribed withreference to the armature n and lever N. Y Y

I claimas my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a battery, a main line, a series ofelectro-magnets included therein, a circuit-closer adapted to transmitelectric impulses from said battery upon said main line, an armature andarmature-lever applied to one of said electro-magnts, two contact-pointscarried upon said armature-lever, two flexible springs,respectivelyextending into the path of said'contact-points, and twonondnductive shunt-circuits, one of said shunt-circuits being completedaround said circuit-closing device and the other around the coils ofsaid electro-magnet by the movement of said armature and armature-levertoward the poles of said electro-maguet.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of abattery, a main line, a series of electro-magnets included therein, acircuit-closing device for completing the cir; cuit of said batterythrough the coils of said electro-magnets, an armature applied to: oneof said electrO-magnets and actuated in response to electric currentstraversing itscoils,

a shunt-circuit the connections of which are completed around saidelectro-magnet and said circuit-closing device by the movements I ofsaid armature toward the poles of said electro-magnet, and anon-inductive resistance included in said shunt-circuit, whichresistance is approximately equal tothe resistance of the I main-linecircuit.

3. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore'set forth, of abattery, a'mainline, a series of electro-magnets included therein, acircuit-closing device for completing the circuit of said batterythrough the coils of said electro-magnets, a normally-open shunt-circuitaround the contact-points of said circuitclosing device, an armatureacting in response to electric-currents traversing the coils of saidelectro magnets to automatically complete ,the connections of saidshunt-circuit.

IIO

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of abattery, a main line, a series of electro-magnets respectively includedtherein, a cireuit-closer for completing the 5 connections of said mainline through said electromagnets, an armature and armature-lever appliedto one of said electro-magnets, a shuntcircuit the connections of whichare completed by the movements of said armature-lever ill 10 response toa current traversing the coils of said elcctrounagnet, means forcontinuing the connections of said shunt-circuit momentarily after theinterruption of the first-named circuit-connection, and a non-inductiveshunt I 5 circuit around the coils of said electromagnet.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of anelectro-magnet, M, its armature m, the contact-points 0 and 0, thecontact-springs p and p, and the non-inductive shunt-circuitsl and Z,the connections of 20 which are respectively completed through the'action of saidarmature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day ofApril, A. D. 1883. HENRY L. BAILEY.

WVitnesses:

DANIEL W. EDGECOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY.

